It offers Lifestyle to Health. SHANTI GUNARATNAM finds out what this means at the Aenon Health Farm.

FORGET health supplements, meat, seafood and dairy products. Just think of vegan meals, plenty of water, daily exercise and talks on healthy eating. Add to this, talks on the importance of being spiritual and its benefits for a balanced mind, body and soul. Don’t be mistaken, this is not the programme at a boot camp but the simple offerings of Aenon Health Farm in Jalan Tanjung Minyak in Bukit Rambai, Malacca.

All natural and no pesticide farm produce.

The bungalow house which sits on four acres of land is where many Malaysians and foreigners come to learn about a healthy and holistic approach to living. This is where people who lead sedentary lifestyles, abuse their bodies by over-indulging and suffer “lifestyle diseases” like coronary problems, hypertension, diabetes and cancer, learn about eating the right food. Aenon president David Fam Saw Ping says what one learns stays in the mind forever, especially the part about eating right and keeping diseases at bay.

“We don’t cure illnesses or make promises to do so but we will teach you the importance of eating right because nutritious food can do wonders for the body. At the end of the day, having a balanced meal of vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains and legumes, is definitely more beneficial than eating meat, seafood and dairy products. “Hundreds of meat eaters who come to stay and learn about nutritious and healthy meals have gone home as vegans,” says Fam. Aenon Health Farm opened in 1999 and its popularity spread through word of mouth. Everything here is simple, from the food to the furnishings. There are only six rooms that can accommodate up to 15 guests.

A healthy vegan diet.

A Day Of Health

What’s it like to spend a day at the health farm? Well, a typical day starts at 7am when guests go for a 45-minute walk, followed by breakfast of fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts, beans and legumes. Then, it’s off to the kitchen for cooking lessons on preparing vegan dishes. After lunch, there are inspiring spiritual talks. The farm also offers lectures on health and nutrition, Swiss massage and educational video shows. “The food served is halal and the farm is open to people of all races and religions,” says Fam who has been a vegan for 16 years.

Prior to recommending a personal conditioning programme for individual needs, an in-house doctor first does a health evaluation, including a complete laboratory blood test. “We hope that what our guests learn here can be applied when they go home. It’s all about maintaining the health benefits they acquired when they were here,” he adds.

To Detox Or Not

The farm offers five and 10-day “Lifestyle To Health And Detoxification” packages priced at RM888 and RM1,488. These include complete medical history and physical examination, blood tests, a blood test for lipids and glucose, doctor’s consultation, hydrotherapy treatments (Russian steam bath) including soothing jacuzzi, colonic irrigation/enema cleansing (optional at RM250 extra charge), Swiss massage, exercise and accommodation.

The Aenon also offers a comprehensive detox diet for cancer patient.

There is also a 20-day Cancer Battle programme which is similar to the Detox programme but it also includes fruit and vegetable juices, charcoal or clay poultice, fever bath and more. This is priced at RM4,900. Then there is a 20-day Intensive Health programme which is similar to the Cancer Battle programme and this is priced at RM4,600. “We are not saying we offer a cure for cancer but by simply changing their diet, cancer patients who come here live longer than the time given by doctors. “The food contains no preservatives or additives. It is all natural and therefore is good for the health. Cancer patients come here to recuperate and to change their dietary habits,” says Fam.

Going For Goodies

Aenon sells a special wholemeal loaf that uses olive oil. On the first Sunday of each month, the farm, run by the Seventh Day Adventist, offers set lunch at RM1 from noon till 2pm. Visitors can sample the food including pizza with vegan cheese, coleslaw without mayonnaise but a similar sauce made with cashew nuts, olive oil and other ingredients, chickpea salad and dessert. You can even get a curry but it’s a milder version than that prepared in many Indian homes and shops. “We don’t use chili, so it would be interesting to find out how we make our curries,” says Fam.

Getting To Aenon Health Farm

The Aenon Health Farm is situated at 2630-1, Jalan Tanjung Minyak, Batu 7, Kampung Tengah, Bukit Rambai, 75250 Malacca. Exit at the Alor Gajah toll plaza of the North-South Highway and take the road to Malacca city. On the way, look out for signboards directing you to Cheng and then head straight for Jalan Tanjung Minyak. When you are on Jalan Tanjung Minyak, look out for the signage to the farm. For details and directions, call 06-335 6960 or 06-335 6961.

Article is sourced from http://travel.nst.com.my/

Location, Driving Direction and Map to Aenon Health Farm

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